GRANT TO PAP COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Dr Lee Siew-Choh asked the Minister for Education if he will say whether the grant of $4 million to the PAP Community Foundation is a proper use of public funds.

The Senior Minister of State for Education (Dr Tay Eng Soon) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, the grant of $4.2 million to the PAP Community Foundation is a proper use of public funds because the money will be used to help the Foundation to upgrade their kindergartens for the benefit of children in Singapore. Other kindergartens may apply for similar grants if they are properly run and have pre-school programmes approved by the Ministry of Education.

Dr Lee Siew-Choh: Is it morally right, Sir, for the Government to spend money on a political party?

Dr Tay Eng Soon: Sir, I would like to correct the statement made by the Non-Constituency Member. This money is not being spent on a political party. It is being spent on a charitable foundation which is called the PAP Community Foundation. This Foundation is registered with the Registrar of Societies and the Commissioner ofCharities and it observes the rules governing charitable organisations.

Dr Lee Siew-Choh: Is the Government prepared to make grants also to other political parties which carry on such kind of work?

Dr Tay Eng Soon: Sir, the answer to that is yes. But the political party concerned should first set up a foundation and, secondly, if they want to run a kindergarten they should show that they can run a viable and good quality kindergarten. Thirdly, if they are running preparatory year programmes which meet the standards approved by the Ministry of Education, they may also apply for the same grant.

Dr Lee Siew-Choh: With all those "buts" and conditions, would that not exclude all other political parties?

Dr Tay Eng Soon: No, Sir, I think they are quite eligible to set up a foundation and do exactly what the PAP Community Foundation has done.

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Sir, can the Minister say that the money spent is purely for educational purpose and not for political purposes?

Dr Tay Eng Soon: Yes, Sir, the money spent will be for the upgrading of certain kindergarten centres, provision of new facilities and new teaching areas. These centres will be used for the provision of kindergarten and nursery classes.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, the PAP logo is used in all these kindergartens, not only on the outside but also in exercise books and sometimes even on uniforms. Is that not a political purpose?

Dr Tay Eng Soon: Sir, the Member may not have scrutinised the logo very carefully. In fact, there is a difference in the PAP Community Foundation's logo, which has the initials "CF", and that is quite different from the Party's logo. This logo has been registered with the Registrar of Societies and the Commissioner of Charities.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Can the Minister say that, in fact, the logo of the PAP Community Foundation is similar to that of the political party? The main thrust of the logo is the lightning. Is that not very clearly identified with the political party?

Dr Tay Eng Soon: I would leave it to the Member to interpret. He can put any interpretation he likes, but it is distinctly different from the Party's logo.

Dr Lee Siew-Choh: Sir, is the logo not intended to persuade voters to vote for the PAP?

Dr Tay Eng Soon: Sir, I wish it was a simple matter of a logo to persuade people to vote. If it was as simple as that, then the Workers Party can use the logo to persuade the people to vote for them as well.